Can I clean this crocoite in SIO without ruining it? Or if i removed the brown coating, would take away from the specimen? [attachment 36027 IMG_9042.JPG][attachment 36026 IMG_9041.JPG] -Adam http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,19,249085,249085#msg-249085 Sat, 25 May 2013 03:14:10 +0000 Phorum 5.2.15a http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,19,249085,249165#msg-249165 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,19,249085,249165#msg-249165 Rock Currier Mineral Cleaning and Preparation Sun, 15 Jan 2012 05:16:56 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,19,249085,249154#msg-249154 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,19,249085,249154#msg-249154 Bart Cannon Mineral Cleaning and Preparation Sun, 15 Jan 2012 04:13:55 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,19,249085,249146#msg-249146 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,19,249085,249146#msg-249146
Maybe it was 1980.

Whenever it was, the Tucson Show Committee held tight reins, very high dealer standards, compliance with strict rules, and a fair amount of cronyism to get onto the main floor. They had secret service agents inspecting hotel dealer rooms for scoflaws who were in the main show, but selling secretly to the public before the main show. Penalty ---- expulsion from the main show.

Earlier in whatever year it was, Ken bought a large lot of watermelon to football sized lumps of crocoite bearing iron and manganese oxides.

I'm sure he bought them for practically nothing.

He found a way to clean them, and his Desert Inn room glass shelves were jam packed with what looked like angry red quilled porcupines.

The next year he was in the main show. He always had a great eye for specimens, but it took this event to draw special attention to it.

He confided to me that part of the secret was hydroflouric acid. It's been 32 years or so. I don't think he'll be mad at me for revealing this. Or any madder at me than he usually is. Having Ken mad at you is a high honor, by the way, and there is usually a hidden smile.

Bart]]> Bart Cannon Mineral Cleaning and Preparation Sun, 15 Jan 2012 01:54:40 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,19,249085,249114#msg-249114 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,19,249085,249114#msg-249114 Ralph Bottrill Mineral Cleaning and Preparation Sat, 14 Jan 2012 22:00:43 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,19,249085,249085#msg-249085 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,19,249085,249085#msg-249085
[attachment 36027 IMG_9042.JPG][attachment 36026 IMG_9041.JPG]

-Adam]]> Adam Berluti Mineral Cleaning and Preparation Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:51:26 +0000